Patents by Inventor James Allen Higgins

James Allen Higgins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9962483
    Abstract: Flow control devices and methods using the flow control devices are provided. In a general embodiment, a cassette includes a housing having a constrictor, a tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and a ball positioned inside the tube. The constrictor can be constructed and arranged to prevent the ball from moving through the tube at the location proximate the constrictor. The ball can prevent fluid flow in one position and be dislodged to allow fluid flow when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: David Woodruff West, James Allen Higgins, Seralaathan Hariharesan, Alan P. Halbert
  • Publication number: 20160346464
    Abstract: Flow control devices and methods using the flow control devices are provided. In a general embodiment, a cassette includes a housing having a constrictor, a tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and a ball positioned inside the tube. The constrictor can be constructed and arranged to prevent the ball from moving through the tube at the location proximate the constrictor. The ball can prevent fluid flow in one position and be dislodged to allow fluid flow when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: David Woodruff West, James Allen Higgins, Seralaathan Hariharesan, Alan P. Halbert
  • Patent number: 9468716
    Abstract: Flow control devices.—In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette (30) comprising a housing having a flow restrictor (34), and a tube (36) attached to the housing and positioned adjacent the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor may be so constructed and arranged to rotate from a first position in which the flow restrictor prevents fluid flow through the tube to a second position in which fluid is able to flow through the tube when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Seralaathan Hariharesan, James Allen Higgins, David Woodruff West
  • Patent number: 9440022
    Abstract: Flow control devices and methods of using the flow control devices are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette (30) comprising a housing (32) having a constrictor (34), a tube (36) attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and a ball positioned inside the tube. The constrictor can be constructed and arranged to prevent the ball (38) from moving through the tube at the location proximate the constrictor. The ball can prevent fluid flow in one position and be dislodged to allow fluid flow when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: David Woodruff West, James Allen Higgins, Seralaathan Hariharesan, Alan P. Halbert
  • Patent number: 8986252
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides cassettes and methods of using same for the delivery of fluids to a patient using fluid delivery systems. In a general embodiment, the cassettes of the present disclosure include a flexible tube, a housing having a recessed area and first and second ends for holding the flexible tube, and at least two additional components including, for example, different sensors, false reading components for sensors, anti-flow valve means, insertion guides, directional indicators, latch mechanisms, kink-prevention notches, etc. Such additional components provide the cassettes of the present disclosure with several advantages including, for example, quality control, efficiency of use, cost effectiveness, and safety of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: David Charles Cummings, Alan P. Halbert, Seralaathan Hariharesan, James Allen Higgins, Brian Highley, Michael Rueben Jedwab, Russell Paul Meyer, Andrew Peter Nelson, David Woodruff West
  • Patent number: 8952695
    Abstract: There is described embodiments of a coil and pad system for use with an MRI machine. The coil and pad system includes a plurality of coils sized to accommodate a plurality of patient ranges of various heights and body weights. There is also a plurality of pads designed to work in conjunction with the plurality of coils to accommodate patient ranges of various heights and body weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventors: Albert Michael Davis, James Allen Higgins, Rostislav Lemdiasov
  • Publication number: 20120266964
    Abstract: Flow control devices and methods of using the flow control devices are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette (30) comprising a housing (32) having a constrictor (34), a tube (36) attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and a ball positioned inside the tube. The constrictor can be constructed and arranged to prevent the ball (38) from moving through the tube at the location proximate the constrictor. The ball can prevent fluid flow in one position and be dislodged to allow fluid flow when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: David Woodruff West, James Allen Higgins, Seralaathan Hariharesan, Alan P. Halbert
  • Publication number: 20120266965
    Abstract: Flow control devices.—In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette (30) comprising a housing having a flow restrictor (34), and a tube (36) attached to the housing and positioned adjacent the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor may be so constructed and arranged to rotate from a first position in which the flow restrictor prevents fluid flow through the tube to a second position in which fluid is able to flow through the tube when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Seralaathan Hariharesan, James Allen Higgins, David Woodruff West
  • Publication number: 20120191059
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides cassettes and methods of using same for the delivery of fluids to a patient using fluid delivery systems. In a general embodiment, the cassettes of the present disclosure include a flexible tube, a housing having a recessed area and first and second ends for holding the flexible tube, and at least two additional components including, for example, different sensors, false reading components for sensors, anti-flow valve means, insertion guides, directional indicators, latch mechanisms, kink-prevention notches, etc. Such additional components provide the cassettes of the present disclosure with several advantages including, for example, quality control, efficiency of use, cost effectiveness, and safety of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: David Charles Cummings, Alan P. Halbert, Seralaathan Hariharesan, James Allen Higgins, Brian Highley, Michael Rueben Jedwab, Russell Paul Meyer, Andrew Peter Nelson, David Woodruff West
  • Publication number: 20120133365
    Abstract: There is described embodiments of a coil and pad system for use with an MRI machine. The coil and pad system includes a plurality of coils sized to accommodate a plurality of patient ranges of various heights and body weights. There is also a plurality of pads designed to work in conjunction with the plurality of coils to accommodate patient ranges of various heights and body weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: MENTIS, LLC
    Inventors: Albert Michael Davis, Rostislav Lemdiasov, James Allen Higgins
  • Publication number: 20120133366
    Abstract: There is described embodiments of a coil and pad system for use with an MRI machine. The coil and pad system includes a plurality of coils sized to accommodate a plurality of patient ranges of various heights and body weights. There is also a plurality of pads designed to work in conjunction with the plurality of coils to accommodate patient ranges of various heights and body weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: MENTIS, LLC
    Inventors: Albert Michael Davis, Rostislav Lemdiasov, James Allen Higgins
  • Patent number: D686324
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mentis LLC
    Inventors: Albert Michael Davis, James Allen Higgins
  • Patent number: D701314
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mentis LLC
    Inventors: Albert Michael Davis, James Allen Higgins